Transgender Artist Kalki Subramaniam to raise money via crowdfunding

Fund to be used for skilling four transgendersET Bureau | Updated: August 24, 2016, 07:32 IST

Kalki Subramaniam is one of the best known transgender activists in the country. With a masters degree in journalism and international relations, she became India's first transgender entrepreneur in 2012.

Social network company Facebook in 2015 listed her among 12 most inspiring women on social media involved in community development.

Subramaniam, whose Sahodari Foundation has been working for the transgender community since 2008, is now turning to online crowdfunding to make a greater impact.

Ten of her artworks are being sold online on city-based crowdfunding platform Fuel A Dream to raise Rs 2 lakh towards education and healthcare of underprivileged and oppressed transgenders.

"Technology helps transgenders network with people around the world and fight our battles with more strength and vigour," the Chennai-based artist says. "Through this initiative, I want to take my art out to the world and not restrict it to galleries where it is considered elitist."

The artworks, painted with acrylic and watercolour, are sold to raise money for four beneficiaries whom Subramaniam has identified and interviewed from Tuticorin, Madurai and Mangaluru.

Two of them are survivors of sex trafficking while others have been shunned by family and need financial support. She has managed to raise Rs 89,000 through 12 funders and is in Bengaluru today for a physical exhibition of her works at the Rangoli Metro Art Centre on MG Road. Her online campaign on the platform will be on for the next 25 days.

Subramaniam is a self-taught artist who uses cubism and vivid colours as a celebration of life. "I am an intense person and I bring it out on canvas through experimental and larger-than-life paintings," she says.

Having travelled to Kerala and Tamil Nadu with her exhibition, she is now planning one in Bengaluru in December. Her foundation connects transgenders with potential employers and trains them with skills to become citizen journalists.

"High gender bias and oppression inflicted on our community puts a question mark on our livelihood. Most of us are reduced to begging and sex trade, but we support each other in whatever way possible. I want to use my art towards the wellbeing of fellow transgenders," Subramaniam says.